Sunday 7 November 2010

7/8 November 1940: The London Underground on this day 70 years ago

Sixty-second day of the London Blitz.

At 19:18 on Friday 7 November 1940, bombs in the vicinity of Latimer Road station brought down the ceiling in the ticket hall.[1]

A Unexploded Bomb 50 feet (15 metres) from the track near High Barnet station suspended Northern line services at 19:35.[2]

A bomb hit the joint District/Southern Railways track between Gunnersbury and Kew Gardens at 21:23.[3] Services suspended between Turnham Green and Richmond.[2]

At 21:32 the retaining wall adjacent to the eastbound track between Ravenscourt Park and Hammersmith was damaged, and the windows of a Piccadilly line train were broken by blast.[3]

At 00:18 on the 8th a bomb hit the track 100 yards (91 metres) east of Ravensvourt Park, damaging four high-tensions feeders, affecting traction, signal, and lighting current, and the power surge shut down Mansion House sub-station.[3] Services suspended on the Northern City line (until 00:30), the Central line (until 00:48), and between Hammersmith and Acton Town on the Piccadilly/District line (until commencement of traffic on the morning of the 8th).[2]

At 08:00 on the 8th, the following working conditions were reported:
District line
Suspended Turnham Green to Richmond - damage between Gunnerbury and Kew.

Northern line
Suspended Finchley Central to High Barnet - UXB between West FInchley and Finchley Central.[5]

Unexploded Bombs

Category A

Nil.

Category B

1. Latimer Road 21/10.
2. Angel station 15/10.
3. Southfields 30/10 - prevents service between Southfields and Wimbledon.[5]

[1] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 07/11/40 to 06:00 08/11/40, sheet 2 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1106]
[2] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form RWD2, 18:00 07/11/40 to 06:00 08/11/40, sheet 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1106]
[3] Railway Executive Committee: Files: Form D2, 18:00 07/11/40 to 06:00 08/11/40, sheet 3 [Kew: National Archives, reference AN 2/1106]
[4] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - November 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 06/11/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/4]
[5] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - November 1940: Railway Situation Report at 08:00 06/11/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/4]


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